LODHRAN: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has said both the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were raising hue and cry against the paramilitary Rangers as they wanted the LEA to leave the province.
“People want the Rangers to stay in Sindh for protection [of life and property] but the corrupt and target killers want the paramilitary force to leave,” he said, while addressing a rally in Lodhran as part of the upcoming by-election in NA-154 on Tuesday.
However, the PTI chief said he agreed to PPP’s reservations of the anti-corruption drive not being initiated in other provinces and just Sindh.
“The PPP has been asking if there was corruption in Punjab. They have been demanding accountability across the board…I think Punjab’s turn will only come once the PTI forms the federal government,” he said.
About National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Imran said he was glad the former had finally realised that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not function properly.
“If the ECP were working properly, it would have initiated an investigation into invalid and illegal votes cast in NA-122 constituency,” Imran said.
Imran argued the prime minister couldn’t ‘buy’ the people of Lodhran with his Rs2.5 billion Kissan package, adding his party would win the by-elections if the polls are free and fair.
“Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan are two leaders of my party I take pride in,” he added.